"Something's not right."
Kakashi, eyes narrowed with caution, kept his guard up as he stared at the Iwa-nin locked in battle with Takeshi.
"What do you mean?"
Obito moved with Rin to Kakashi's side, ensuring Rin was fully protected. As he lifted his goggles and activated his Sharingan, he asked about Kakashi's earlier comment.
"That Iwa-nin just said there were two Iwa Jōnin stationed here, but Takeshi's only fighting one. So where's the other one?"
Kakashi explained the situation to Obito.
Before Obito could make sense of it, a powerful kick struck him in the back, flipping his world upside down.
Rin let out a startled scream as a large Iwa-nin silently used the Camouflage Jutsu to sneak up behind them and easily captured her.
Seeing this, Hikaru's eyes lit up with glee. He prepared to break away from Takeshi and rendezvous with Daishi.
"Don't move, or I'll kill her."
Daishi pressed a kunai to Rin's neck, threatening Kakashi as he was about to act.
Hearing Rin's scream, Takeshi didn't panic. He instantly vanished from in front of Hikaru.
"Gone? No... just like before... Daishi, dodge!"
Hikaru, just about to think of a way to shake off Takeshi, saw him disappear and instinctively went into a defensive stance. Then realization struck, and he shouted toward Daishi.
But he was too late.
The moment Takeshi disappeared, Daishi felt a numbing pain at his neck. Warm liquid spilled over his chest. He wanted to drive the kunai into Rin, but his arm wouldn't obey him.
"Hmph, good thing I planned ahead."
Effortlessly snatching Rin from Daishi's dying grip, Takeshi didn't pause to rest. He instantly used the Flying Thunder God Technique to return to Hikaru's side.
Obito and Kakashi also rushed to Rin's side to check on her condition.
"That terrifying speed… could you be the Yellow Flash? No, the age and hair color don't match!"
Watching Daishi get his throat slit, Hikaru was thrown into disarray and began frantically searching his memory for information on this young shinobi.
Takeshi leaned back to dodge Hikaru's horizontal strike, discarded his kunai, drew the sword from his back, and surged forward.
Though it sounded flashy, this was essentially a horizontal slash.
Hikaru tightened his core and barely avoided the blade, but his flak jacket was torn, the sword nearly slicing into his abdomen.
Taking a deep breath, Takeshi imbued White Light Chakra Sabre with wind chakra and swung again.
An upward slash—Hikaru dodged again, but pain shot through his body, forcing him to halt.
"Impossible… I dodged the blade…"
Staring at the deep, bone-revealing wound on his body, Hikaru hadn't even figured out what had happened before Takeshi pressed the attack.
The blade moved like a sudden gale, severing Hikaru's final breath. Blood sprayed and splattered on the ground, blooming like plum blossoms.
"So that's it... wind chakra..."
Realizing the truth only in death, Hikaru collapsed in frustration.
Not letting his guard down, Takeshi stabbed once more into the back of Hikaru's heart, then finally sheathed his blade after confirming the kill.
"This brat... really is troublesome."
Black Zetsu, having observed the entire battle, had a general understanding of Takeshi's abilities and began considering how to abduct Obito from these capable opponents.
"...Huh? That one's still breathing..."
His eyes turned to Daishi's 'corpse,' and a plan formed instantly in Black Zetsu's mind.
Detaching from White Zetsu, Black Zetsu transformed into a puddle of tar-like sludge and slipped underground. It slithered beneath Daishi's body and took over just as the last breath escaped him.
Forming a drill-like spike of hardened earth over the arm, the possessed Daishi sprang up from the ground and charged straight for Rin.
The idea was to force Takeshi to use the Flying Thunder God again, creating an opening to snatch Obito during the rescue. White Zetsu would then cover the retreat.
"Rin!"
Sensing the attack on Rin, Obito moved before he could think, dashing faster than he ever had in his life. He pushed Rin aside—only to find himself directly in the drill's path.
"You've gotta be kidding—he's still alive?!"
Takeshi had just sheathed his blade when he heard Obito's shout. He turned and saw Daishi, with a gaping wound in his neck exposing his windpipe, still moving and charging at Obito.
"Earth Style: Earth Wall!"
A dog-headed wall of earth rose between Obito and Daishi, but the drill shattered it effortlessly. Luckily, Kakashi had already yanked Obito aside the moment the wall went up, preventing Daishi's attack from piercing Obito's chest.
Damn it, I overlooked that silver-haired brat!
Black Zetsu hadn't expected Kakashi's reaction to be so fast, but he didn't lose composure. He activated the Camouflage Jutsu again, quickly approaching Obito, and revealed himself just as he drew a ninja blade.
Daishi's body wouldn't last much longer. He had to strike Obito down in this next attack and drag him away!
Kakashi and Obito, however, assumed the target was Rin again and kept their focus on her.
...
When Daishi reappeared, the blade was mere centimeters from Obito's shoulder.
Warm blood splashed onto Obito's face, blinding him.
But the expected pain never came.
When Obito wiped the blood from his eyes, he saw a familiar back shielding him.
Everyone froze.
Especially Black Zetsu. No matter how much he racked his brain, he couldn't understand why this kid Takeshi had appeared in front of Obito—the one person who seemed the least in danger—and taken the blow for him.
Wait... how did he even know my real target was Obito?
And why the hell would you block the strike with your own body?!
Stunned and completely thrown off, Black Zetsu hesitated. He hadn't figured out what to do next when a sharp crackling sound pierced his ears.
"Dammit—Takeshi!"
With a desperate roar, Kakashi charged at Daishi with Lightning Blade in hand.
As the blade tore through Daishi's heart, Black Zetsu realized there was no longer any hope of abducting Obito. He gave up the body, reverting into black sludge and slipping down Daishi's pant leg.
Like a giant pile of... something gross.
"Takeshi, are you okay?!"
Rin pushed Obito aside and rushed to treat Takeshi, who lay bleeding on the ground.
But when she saw the wound, her expression turned strange.
"How is he, Rin?"
Kakashi, having confirmed Daishi was thoroughly dead, ran over anxiously. As he asked Rin about Takeshi's condition, he too saw the injury...
"Uh..."
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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